Arrangement for receptacle



July 26, 1966 A. ZlLLMANN ARRANGEMENT FOR REGEPTACLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1964 July 26, 1966 A. ZILLMANN 3,262,596

ARRANGEMENT FOR RECEPTAGLE Filed Aug. 28, 1964 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

Jar/e01 pvt, 5955?, $125 515 5 July 26, 1966 A. ZILLMANN ARRANGEMENT FOR RECEPTACLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 28, 1964 United States Patent Claims priority, application Switzerland, Sept. 4, 1963.,

10,930/ 63 4 Claims. (Cl. 215-100) The present invention has reference to an improved arrangement for containers or receptacles, particularly for bottles provided with a number of stacked beakers or cups.

With certain liquids, for example medicines, there exists the necessity of delivering an exactly dosed qantity. Droppers are used for smaller quantities. Larger quantities can be filled in a. measuring bowl or determined by weighing devices. However, such techniques are cumbersome for the layman. Furthermore, after each use a careful cleaning is required. A simplification is provided by means of dosing beakers used only one time, socalled throw-away beakers or cups.

It is already known to construct throw-away beakers or cups such that they can be inserted into one another in a stack, thereby accommodated in a small space. Such type beakers or cups are, for example, delivered by dispensing machines for refreshment drinks.

However, for the present purposes such cups are not suitable since in the open condition they can become soiled. This is also true if the cups are stacked in inverted position over the bottlenecks and closures. In so doing, they contact the closure at their inside or inner face, which closure is particularly subjected to soiling since during opening .and closing it is contacted by hand.

The present invention resides in the features that a holder or support element is provided which is seatable upon the container and possesses a plate for receiving a stack of cups or beakers. Preferably, the holder element is simultaneously constructed as closure means for the opening of the container. For example, the holder element possesses at the plate a threaded opening serving as a threaded closure for an appropriately constructed container. The threaded closure can be inverted in position in the plate of the holder or support element and forms together with a wall surrounding the plate a compartment for the beakers stacked upon one another, with the opening of each beaker being directed downwards. The outer wall of the support element is advantageously provided with axially directed slots open towards the top and in which engage shoulders or lugs extending outwardly from the edge of the cup or beaker. Constrictions formed by bulges or beads are provided at the region of the open end of these .axial slots, these constrictions securing the beakers at their shoulders from fallingout. The cups or beakers advantageously possess a conical converging form and an arched or domed floor. At the outer side of the beakers ledges or step means are pressed-in or otherwise provided and upon which there bears the edge of a beaker stacked thereover.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a front view of a bottle provided with beaker-holder element and beakers;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the bottle structure of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the bottle structure of FIGURE 1, partly in cross-section;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of a holder or support element for the beakers, partially Sl'lOlWl'l in cross-section;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the holder element of FIGURE 4;

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FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the holder element of FIGURE 4 illustrating details thereof; FIGURE 7 is a front view of a beaker, depicted partly lIl cross-section;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view and FIGURE 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-sectional view through the walls of two beakers stacked on top of one another.

Describing now the drawings, and with reference initially made to FIGURES 1 to 3 it will be seen that the bottle 1, for-med of glass or plastic for instance, exhibits an external threading 3 at its neck 2. A holder or support element 4 formed of plastic is comprised of a plate 5 provided with a threaded indentation or central portion 6 and a wall 7 provided with upwardly open, axially directed slots 8, 9 and 10. The holder or support element 4 forms an upwardly open, hollow compartment 13 (FIGURE 4) for receiving the cups or beakers 14, and the threaded portion 6 thereof is engageable with the threaded neck 2 of the bottle 1.

In FIGURES 4 to 6 the beaker-holder or support element 4 is separately illustrated. Constrictions or narrow portions 11a formed by beads or protrusions 11, 12 are located at the upper end of the slots 8, 9 and 10. Between the inverted-in-position threaded indentation or central portion 6 and the wall 7 the hollow compartment 13 narrows to an annular groove 13a.

The cups or beakers 14 consisting of synthetic material e.g. plastic are housed in the hollow compartment 13 such that the openings 14a are directed downwardly, and outwardly directed shoulders 15, 16 and 17, here shown as semicircular tabs, provided at the periphery or margin of the beakers engage in the slotes 8, 9 and 10, respectively. According to FIGURES 7 to 9 the beakers 1 4 possess a conical shape and an arched base or floor 18. This arched base 18 should prevent the erection of the beaker 14 and re-newed use thereof. Due to the conical construction of the beakers 14 such can be stacked upon one another, thereby accommodated in a small space. The beads or projections 11 and 12 secure the beaker 14 from falling-out in the event that the bottle 1 with its neck 2 is held downwardly.

In order to prevent the sticking together of a number of beakers 14 upon removal such, according to FIGURE 9, are provided with ledges or steps 19, 20, 21 pressedout of the beaker wall 14b above its shoulders 15, 16 and 17. Each beaker 14 bears with one of the shoulders 15, 16 and 17 upon theledges or steps 19, 2t and 21, respectively, of the beaker 14 situated therebeneath. Since the ledges or steps 19, 20 and 21 possess a certain spacing from the bottom face or edge 22 of the beaker 14 there results an intermediate compartment between the individual beakers which makes sticking together impossible.

Since the beakers 14 with their openings 14a directed downwardly are stacked upon the plate 5 no impurities can penetrate. If the beaker-holder or support element 4 is unthreaded then the beakers 14 remain connected with such. In each instance, the uppermost beaker can be removed, whereby the shoulders 15, 16 and 17 during thnoughpassage resiliently bent-out due to the narrowing of the slots 8, 9 and 10, as previously explained. In order to achieve a tight closure of the bottle opening 1a a packing or seal 6a is imbedded in the threaded central portion 6.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

of the beaker of FIGURE 7;

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a receptacle, particularly a bottle, a holder element for housing a stack of beakers, said holder element including means for seating said holder element upon the receptacle and incorporating a plate member for receiving a stack of beakers, which plate member form an inwardly turned screw closure means for said opening of the receptacle, said holder element having wall means surrounding said plate member and spaced from said threaded portion to provide a hollow compartment for receiving said stack of beakers, said holder element being provided with axially directed slot means open at their upper end, each of said beakers being provided with shoulder means extending outwardly from the periphery thereof and engaging with said slot means.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said slot means are provided with protrusions at the region of the open upper end thereof which form constructions 4 securing said breakers at their shoulder means from falling-out of said holder element.

3. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein each beaker possesses a conical converging configuration and an arched floor.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein each beaker is provided at its external surface with step means against which bears a lower edge of an overlying stacked beaker. a

I References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,655,255 10/1953 Brown 20665 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner. R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A RECEPTACLE, PARTICULARLY A BOTTLE, A HOLDER ELEMENT FOR HOUSING A STACK OF BRACKETS, SAID HOLDER ELEMENT INCLUDING MEANS FOR SEATING SAID HOLDER ELEMENT UPON THE RECEPTACLE AND INCORPORATING A PLATE MEMBER FOR RECEIVING A STACK OF BEAKERS, WHICH PLATE MEMBER FROM AN INWARDLY TURNED SCREW CLOSURE MEANS FOR SAID OPENING OF THE RECEPTACLE, SAID HOLDER ELEMENT HAVING WALL MEANS SURROUNDING SAID PLATE MEMBER AND SPACED FROM SAID THREADED PORTION TO PROVIDE A HOLLOW 